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The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
This press release summarises the Communications Authority (CA)'s decisions following its 46th meeting in October 2015:
Application for deviations from programming requirement by Phoenix U Radio Limited (Phoenix U Radio)
The CA approved the application by Phoenix U Radio to deviate from its Licensee's Proposal in respect of the number of hours of first-run programmes on U Radio 22 (General Channel) under its sound broadcasting licence (Licence) with retrospective effect from September 28, 2015, until the date on which the surrender of the Licence by Phoenix U Radio (if accepted by the Chief Executive in Council) takes effect (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Period").
Under the Licence, unless otherwise approved by the CA, Phoenix U Radio shall comply at all times with the Licensee's Proposal it submitted when applying for the Licence. According to its Licensee's Proposal, Phoenix U Radio is required to provide every day 17 hours of first-run programmes on its General Channel.
On September 17, 2015, Phoenix U Radio made an application to the Chief Executive in Council for the surrender of the Licence. On September 24, 2015, Phoenix U Radio applied for the CA's approval for it to deviate from the programming requirement in respect of the number of hours of first-run programmes on the General Channel as set out in its Licensee's Proposal during the Interim Period. Phoenix U Radio submitted that the General Channel would broadcast 10 hours of first-run programmes each day during the Interim Period, falling short of the 17 hours requirement it had committed to in its Licensee's Proposal. Phoenix U Radio further submitted that as most of its staff would leave their posts by the end of September 2015, it had limited manpower to make other arrangements.
In considering the application, the CA noted that Phoenix U Radio had already made an application to surrender the Licence, and pending the consideration of the Chief Executive in Council, it might not have the required manpower and resources to maintain a full-fledged service during the Interim Period. The current arrangements represented the best endeavours of Phoenix U Radio to continue to provide its service to the listening public. Given the special circumstances surrounding Phoenix U Radio, the CA considered that there was a case for Phoenix U Radio to deviate from the programming requirement in respect of first-run programmes in its Licensee's Proposal during the Interim Period. The CA granted its approval on that basis.
Disruptions of telecommunications services of China Unicom (Hong Kong) Operations Limited (China Unicom)
On April 3 and 5, 2015, there were two separate incidents of network outage of China Unicom, causing disruptions to its telecommunications services including mobile voice services, short message services and mobile data services. The first incident had lasted for 24.5 hours and around 75,000 customers of China Unicom were affected. The second incident had lasted for 8.5 hours and around 31,500 customers of China Unicom were affected. The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) completed an investigation into the incidents. After considering the assessment of OFCA, the CA concluded that in both instances, China Unicom had not complied with General Condition 5.1 of its Services-based Operator Licence, which required it to operate, maintain and provide a good, efficient and continuous service in a manner satisfactory to the CA. The CA decided to impose a financial penalty of $100,000 on China Unicom. For details, please refer to the CA's Decision published on the CA's website (www.coms-auth.hk/filemanager/statement/en/upload/343/Unicom_FinalDecision_e.pdf).
Ends/Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:32
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